Welded bitubular column



Nov. 1, 1938. EL CHA ER 2,135,441

' WELDED BITUBULAR COLUMN I Filed Sept. '17, 1935 2 Sheets-She et 1'INVENTOR R 14 45M BY M1) 5? 24220,

ATTORNEY kThe, invention relates to improvementsin columns for dri 1 forin such machines, the column is the fulcrum oramore in-length, uponwhich is mounted a translatable drillheadweighing upward of a 'near itsbase naturally introduces an error in heretoforeused were, with dueregards to the .unit

' least amount of material consistent with the I rigidity andaccuracydemanded in the completed {I'heprimary object of the presentinvention is proportion than a cast f struc't the column of steelplateand tubing, previously cut to the required shapes and sizes, and gweldedtogether at their joints. A steel column jaf'abricated welded column maybe constructed- Ipen'sive patternsand loses due to defective castrPatented Nov. 1,1938

Y tool head, without flexing or yielding inany way.

transportation, and selling considerations rei ...{U I ED STATE PATENTOFFICE 2,135,441 F WELDED'BIIUBULAR COLUMN s Lawrence Lee Schauer WyOm IOhio, assignor to The Cincinnati Bickford Tool CompanygCincinnati, Ohio,a corporation of Ohio Application September 17, 1935, Serial No; 40,910

vide a column which in its roughest condition requires but a. minimumamount of tooling to convert itinto a'finished product ready forinstallation in a machine tool organization. That end'is readilyachieved in thisfabricated welded column construction for the reasonthat the steel plate and tubing selected for the column is of standarduniform thickness and sizes having relatively finished surfaces. Theonly machining necessary to the fabricated column being that around thebearings and the external Welds. As these portions to be machined arerelatively few and small in number and. area the whole columnmaybel'constructed and installed in a machine tool in a fraction of thetime and expense heretofore, involved in the construction of castcolumns' Still another object of the invention is to provide a columnamply reenforced at the critical points. In radial drill columnsthecrucial region wherein the largest portion of the bending stresses fall;is at the lower end thereof just above the base." With the cast columnsheretofore used, manufacturers have endeavored to reenforce that area ofthe column by the use of ribs. etc., which fall far short of giving thestrength and rigidity required. Problems arising in the foundry alsopresented insurmountable obstacles in the proper design of cast columns.

A fabricated Welded steel column, however, renderspossible a structureconceived along scientifically and mathematically sound lines and inwhich adequate provision'may be made for all thefactors of load,stresses, and safety.

In carrying out the objects of this invention it is proposed to weld arelatively short sleeve membert'o a base plate of the desired size, andto the top thereof Weld an annular inwardly extending flange or bearingring. A relatively long length of steel tubing forms the column properand to the, bottom of, which there is welded a transverse plate whichclosely fits the inside of the',lower sleeve, portion. By inserting thetop endjof the column proper through the lower sleeve and the annularflange from the under side, a telescoping structure is formed by meansof which the'column' may; within certain limits, be adjusted for height.After the proper height of column isobtained the two portions are weldedtogether as an integral unit thereby forming a complete column;reenforced at its lower end by the bitubular construction. This designlends x supporttothe upright post at all sides of its ingsare entirelyeliminated. a extreme lower end and also to a region substan- Afurtherobject of the invention is to protia'lly removed therefrom, thuselfectively resist- :9 Claims.

ling machines and more@ particu-- point of a massive radial armfrequently ten feet half-ton; In some constructions a sleeve memher isinterposed betweenthe .arm and the column, whereas in otherconstructions no sleeve is used, However, in either type the columnnec-" essarily-mustbe massively proportioned to carry the loadof thesleeve,..the iradial arm, and the Amy yielding of the column atthe lowerregions alignment which ismagnified over and over again in the alignmentof the tool spindle that is journaled in the head out on the arm.

To meet that condition the cast iron columns strength of cast iron, madeexceedingly large and very heavy. And although manufacturing,

quired that the column be constructed with the fmachine-the huge castironcolumns of the machines represent still too large a. proportion ofthe.

cost of the'completed machine.

to render available a column having'the strength and rigidity necessarytowithstand the severe bendingloads of the arm or thrusts of the tooling"operation; that may be easily constructed,relaffti'vely. light inweightand considerably smaller in iron column of equal :capacity. v Inattaining. that object it is proposed to confabricated and welded, asherein proposed'isy as compared with a cast column of equalsize, atleast 130% stronger. The net result being that considerably smaller thana cast column for the; j corresponding service, lighter in weight, andconsequently more easily machined and handled.

Moreover; with a fabricated welded column, ex-

ing the forces tending to bend or deform the column at that criticalregion.

The present invention it will be observed also renders available acolumn free of internal longitudinal or radial ribs and webbings and inwhich there is ample free space available for the insertion of gears,shafting and such other mecha 'nisms as may be desired.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the followingdescription and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection withthe annexed drawings. -n

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlyingfeatures hereof that they may embody the same in the various wayscontemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typicalconstruction have been h annexed as a part of this disclosure and, insuch drawings, like characters of reference denote cor mechanisms.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings the typicalmachine therein illustrated comprises essentially a base member Ill; anupstanding post or column 'II secured thereto; a sleeve member I2rotatable .upon the post; a radially extendingarm member I3 verticallyadjustable upon the sleeve; anda tool head I4 translatable on the arm,toward or away from the L main supporting column.

Within the tool headfI4, a tool spindle I5 is journaled for rotation andtranslation, and also all the mechanism'necessary for driving thespindle at various speeds and for translating the head on the arm. Incertain types of constructions the arm'also supports a main drivingmotor I6, while in other constructions the drive motor is located at thebase of the column.

The main characteristic of a radial drill'is the V ability to drilltothe center ofvery large workpieces and 'to that end machines are madewith anarmprojecting 1,0 to 12 feet from the column. This great overhangof the 'arm' sets up enormous bending stresses in the post I I at theregion A indicated upon thejdrawings. The stresses are;

of course; more'severe when the headis at the extreme end of the armthan when the head is near the column. However, with either conditionany bending or yielding of the column, whether caused by the load of thearm why the thrusts of the tooling operation, is greatly magnified andvisually apparent at the drill spindle, resulting not only in inaccuratework but in'work being spoiled because of ,the tendency of the drill tobreak through the work near the end of the out due to the reflex springin the column. a

' To overcome the disadvantages above indicated it is proposed tofabricate a column'of steel'p'late and tubing. Fig, 2 illustrates insection, a preferred method of constructing an eminently rigid columndevoid of the flexing characteristics displayed in columns heretoforedesigned. The

present column is constructed of two main parts,

a base member 20 which is'bolted to the floor or to the main base of themachine, and an. upright cylindrical post 2i, a substantial portion ofwhich telescopes within the outer shell portion 20.

The post 2 I' is preferably made of steel and is capped with a bearingand supporting plate 22,

' Welded thereto as indicated at 23. The center of the cap 22 isinitially provided with an aperture 24 for receiving radial and thrustbearings for suspending the weight of the sleeve I2 and' all" partscarried thereby. The lower end of the hollow post or shell 2I has weldedthereto a plate member 25 which extendsbeyond its periphery intoengagement with the inner wall of the base portion 20.

A preferred form of a base for rigidly supporting the steel'post'ZIcomprises a base-plate member 28 of a size sufficient to provide aperipheral bolting flange. The central section of the baseplate may becut away and notched as at 29 to provide respectively'a space forenclosed meche anismand a gatefor the insertion of same.

'Extending upright from, and welded to the base-plate 28 is acylindricalsleeve member 30 which completely encircles the post-plate 25and.

provides an exterior clamping surface for the sleeve I2. Prior towelding the cylindrical member to the base-plate 28, a reenforcingannular band 3I is welded thereto as at 32 and 33. The weld 32 isthereafter ground smooth and the sleeve 3B'with its reenforcing band 3Iwelded to the base-plate 28 as at 34 and 35. r

I Thetopofjthe sleeve 33 has welded thereto, insideat 40 and outside atM, a stepped plate 36, the center of which is apertured at 31 to receivethe steel inner tube 2| and to support same against lateral movement. jf

In assembling the post to the base, the post is inserted from the bottomthrough the opening.

31, adjusted vertically therein until the proper height .is obtained andwelded at 38 and 39.

Preferably this height should be such that the lower post flange 25comes. within the bounds of the: reenforcing band 3 I ,-s'o that thelateral thrusts reacting at the lower endof the post 25 are resisted notonly by the sleeve 30 but also by the band3I. I I

.To complete the column a bearing band 42 is welded to the post 2| atthe required height; and

a fcover member .43 welded to: the base-plate 28 and reenforcing band3|, for covering the gateway to the open space within'the column;

is ground true and cooperates with complemental bearings means providedin the sleeve 12. The

50 In the machine illustrated the bearing band 42 sleeve is therebyguided against any lateral movement relative to the post 2I but mayrotate there? on and be .clamped in any angularly adjusted position bythe clamp' means indicated at 50.

Toiprve'nt the enormous weight of the overhang ing'arm from'impingingthe sleeve tightly on the.

surface of the bearing member'42 and outer shell member $3.0, adjustableanti-friction rollers 44 journaled" in the bell portion of, the sleeveI2, are

provided. The rollers 44 ride against the peripheryof a bearing ring 5|.seatedin the step 45in the plate 36.

After assembling and'w'elding the plates and cylinders together as aboveexplained the column ;is;=ready for finishing the surfaces of thebearing members :42 and sleeve clamping member 30.

lnasmuch as these parts already are provided with-relatively smooth andtrue peripheries, the expense involved in'bri'nging them to the precisedimension required is reduced to a minimum. a

, welded steel column is rendered available having a From the foregoingitLwill be "perceived thata I all the 'advantages'oi a cast column plusthe additional advantages of being smaller in size, more sturdy andrigid in the vital regions, and-easily and quicklyconstructed;-All-vertioalthrusts ion The rectangular'section defined by the walls ofthese plates and the side walls of the cylinders2 l; g and 30 affordingafclosed rectangular annulus 10 eminently suited 'to' resist ianyvertical or lateral deflection underthelever action of the armincidentto its weight'or occasioned by the tooling -20 can," by applyingcurrentknowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining oneormore of the-features that, from thestandpoint of the prior art; fairlyconstitute essentialcharacteristics of either the generic or'specificaspects of 25 this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be,andare intended to be, comprehended [within the "meaning and rangeofequivalency of "the following claims;--'

a 7 Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as 1 30 new andfldesireto secure the following combina tions'and elements,- or equivalentsthereof, by Letters- Patent of h the United States: 1-. A radial drillcombining a base, a horizon 1 *ftally di spo'sed'arm member extending inparallel '35j spaced relation withsaidbaseya tool head,-having a toolspindle journaled therein, translatable on the arm; and averticallyarranged welded steel column connected with one of said armandwithsaid base for supportingjsaid arm and for '40 maintaining same insaid parallel spaced relation under the reactionary forces of'thetooling operation and of gravity, comprising a relatively long innersteel shell and'a relatively, short outer steel 'shell arranged inspaced relation and par- 45 tially-telescoped, the lower end of saidouter shell extending beyond the lower end of said inner shell, andapair of spaced flange members arranged transverse to-the axis of saidshells for connecting said shells together as an integral unit 5 and fortransmitting to said outer shell the vertically and laterally actingforces of the inner shell V incident to the weight and lever action ofthe said arm acting thereon. I I 7 2. A radial drill combining ahorizontally extending arm member a tool head translatable on the arm;a'tool spindle journaled in said head; 'an' upright column member forsupporting one end of said arm and for maintaining said arm in saidhorizontal relation under the reactionary 60 forces of gravity and ofthe tooling operation, comprising an upright steel post member, a supnporting base member for said post overlappingthe lower'portions of saidpost and. extending beyond theend' thereof, said base member having an65 aperture provided; therein "for receiving a substantial portion ofthe lower end of said post member," and means arranged perpendicular toi J the'axis of said post integrally connectin'g the extreme lower endof said post member to an 70 intermediate section of said base memberand the top of said baseme'mber to an intermediate secv ,i tionjof saidpost. 7 s s r 3. Aradial drill combining a base member; a

V fabricated 1 tubular .column' member uprising '75 thereirom an armmember supported by and extending radially from said tubular column;said column comprising a smooth walled steel tube having at its lowerend a concentric peripherally I 3 spaced sleeve member, said sleevemember ex- 5' the post- 2 areftransmitted'to the-base at two regions,namely through the platesziand 36.

tending beyond the end of said tube; a pair of spaced flange membersintegrally Welded to said sleeve, one of the flanges being adjacent theextreme lower end of said steel tube and the other of said flanges beingadjacent the top of said sleeve and engaging the outer periphery of anintermediate section of said tube; and means uniting said flanges, steeltube and sleeve members together as an integral unit aifording abi-tubular reenforced column construction, having at least one annularand completely closed cell, resisting bending strains occurring at thelower portions thereof incident to the weight and lever action of saidarm.

4. A radial drill combining a base; an arm member spaced therefrom andin parallel relation therewith; a column member for rigidlysupportingone end of said arm, comprising a hollow steel tubular member,'aconcentrically arranged spaced sleeve member adjacent one end of saidsteel tubular member andextending beyond the end thereof, a firsttransverse flange member connecting the end of said tubular member withthe inner periphery of said sleeve member intermediate its ends, asecond transverse flange member connecting the upper end of said sleevemember with the outer periphery of an intermediate section of saidtubular'member, said transverse flanges being spaced apart from oneanother forming a closed annular cell between said sleeve and tubularmember, for supporting the end and intermediate regions of said tubularmember against vertical and lateral movement;

andmeans encircling said sleeve member at a region coincident with theplane of one said transverse connecting flanges for reenforcing saidsleeve against the laterally acting strains transmitted through the saidflange.

' 5. A radial drill combining a base member; a fabricated tubular columnmember uprising therefrom; an arm member supported by and projectingradially from said tubular column; said column comprising a smoothwalled steel tube, a concentrically arranged open ended sleeve membersurrounding the lower portion of said tube and extending beyond the endthereof, an annular flange engaging the upper end periphery of saidsleeve and the periphery of said tube at a point intermediate its ends,a second annular flange member engaging the lower end of said tube andthe adjacent inner wall of the said sleeve member, said flanges, steeltube and sleeve members being welded together as to form an integralunit having a closed rectangular annular space between said flanges,tube, and sleeve, and adapted to withstand the vertical lateral strainsincident to the weight and lever action of the said projecting arm, anda metal ring member encircling the lower portion of said sleeve andwelded thereto for additionally reenforcing same.

6. A radial drill combining a base, an arm member extending in parallelspaced relation with said base; a tool head, having a tool spindlejournaled therein, translatable on the arm; and a column connected withone end of said arm and with said base for supporting said arm and toolhead and for maintaining said arm in said parallel spaced relation underthe reactionary forces of the tooling operation and of gravity,comprising a relatively long inner steel shell and a relatively shortouter shell arranged concen- 4 trically and in "spaced -relation,"and apairot vertically spaced continuous flange members ar-;

ranged transverse to the axis of said shells, said flange members andsaid shells being weldedtor gether as anintegral unit with the lower endof said inner shell spaced from said base and for transmitting to 'saidouter shell the vertically acting forces of the inner shell induced bythe weight of said arm, said concentric shells and spaced flangesforming a closed rectangular anon the arm;.a tool spindle journaled insaid 7 head; a column member for supporting one end of said arm and formaintaining said arm in said horizontal relation under the reactionaryforces of gravity and of the tooling operation, comprising an uprightsteel post member connected with one end of said arm, a supporting basemember for said post, said base member having an aperture providedtherein, for receiving a substantial portion of the lower end of saidpost member, and having flange means arranged in spaced relation inparallel planes perpendicular to the axis of said post and'adapted toengage the extreme lower end and an intermediate section of said post,said flanges and post members being welded integrally together therebyaffording a rigid bitubular column member reenforcedfat its lower endagainst lateral strains'incident to the lever action of said arm.

8. A radial drill combining a base member; a

fabricated tubular column member uprising therefrom constituted 'of aplurality of concentrically arranged tubularpportions welded together,the outer portion extending only; 'part- I way: to the top of theinnerportion and exteriorly providing a clamping surface and interiorlyconnected to the :inner portion by; a plurality of horizontally'disposedflanges, one of said flanges being adjacent the lowerend of theinnerpormember extending radially from said sleeve and arranged forvertical; movementthereon, said welded tubular portions and flangesaffording a rigid column member reenforced against vertical weight andlever action of said arm; ,9. The method of fabricating a steel columnfrom steel plate and tubing for a radial drilling machine which consistsin welding a circular flangeplate member to the end of a length ofsmaller diametered steel tubing, welding an in- Wardly'projectingannular flange plate memberto one end of a shorter length-of steeltubing which has an ,inside diameter approximately equal to the diameterof the flange plate welded to the first mentioned steel tube, placingsaid two .1. and lateral thrustsof said sleeve'incident to the steeltubes in telescoped relation with the flanged V end of the firstmentioned tube inside-of'the second steel tube and spaced from theinwardly projecting flanged end thereof, and with the inner edge of theinwardly projecting flange adjacent the outer periphery of the flrstmentioned steel tube and then welding the adjacent portions of bothflanges and'steel tubes thereby to provide a bi-tubular steelcolumnreenforced by the two transverse spaced flanges.

LAWRENCE- LEn SCHAUER.

a I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No.- 2,155,1 E1. November 1, 19

- LAWRENCE LEE SCHAUER. Y It .ishereb y oertified that error appears inthe printed. specification of the above numbered patent requiringcorrection as follows: Page 5 first column, line' 58, claim 1, after theword "one" insert end; and that the said Letters Patent should be readwith this correction therein that the same may conform to the 'reeord ofthe case in the Patent Office. I

signed and sealed 'this 6th day of December, A. D. 19 8.v

v a Y Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

